An event will take place in October which will see digital developers and data analysts work with the agri-sector to explore new ways to cut back on paperwork for farmers.

The EU-wide event will take place from October 16 to 18, and is described as an 'agri-hackathon'.

In the world of engineering and computer programming, a 'hackathon' - a combination of 'hacking' and 'marathon' - is an event in which participants engage in intensive, collaborative sharing of ideas over a short period of time.

The aim of the event, according to the European Commission, is to come up with new digital solutions to reduce administrative burden for farmers, while improving sustainability and strengthening transparency across the agri-food chain.

This is the first event of its type to be organised by the European Commission.

People from a range of different areas are invited to take part, including farmers, developers, data experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and agri-food professionals.

Those wishing to take part have until August 31 to apply.

The commission said that the agri-hackathon will connect participants with experts in agriculture, technology and research, as well as business leaders and policymakers from across Europe.

The event will see participants addressing three key challenges.

The first of these is on helping farmers save time on paperwork by developing digital tools to turn manual administrative tasks into simplified and automated systems.

The second challenge is on helping farmers to manage and use data from their farms, by turning it into clear, accessible information.

The third challenge relates to sharing information with other players in the food supply chain, "ensuring farmers retain control of their data and strengthening their position across the food chain".

According to the commission, simplification is the key ambition of addressing those three challenges.

"EU farmers today face growing complexity, in administrative obligations, in the data their operations generate, and in the information demands placed on them across the food chain," the commission said.

Participants will take part in mentoring sessions and exchanges with specialists in various areas.

At the end of the event a winning project will be announced, which will then be showcased at a later award event.